Chapter Twenty-eight

Summary

• The narrator struggles with insomnia due to the impending visit to see her deceased father's body.
• At the funeral home, the narrator is overcome with grief upon seeing her father in the coffin but takes solace in hearing her mother speak their native language, Twi.
• Feeling a temporary sense of peace after leaving the funeral home, the narrator meets her friend Nia for lunch at a Portuguese restaurant, where they discuss their experiences with grief.
• During a walk with Nia after lunch, the narrator contemplates the changes in her life and her interactions with others since her father's illness and passing.
• Returning home, the narrator overhears her housemate Jo talking with friends in the garden, discussing their mutual friend Sam and planning social activities.
• The narrator's sense of loneliness is contrasted with Jo's carefree social life, especially when she hears Jo plan to visit a brunch place she recommended.
• Seeking solace, the narrator attends an online church service and finds herself resonating with prayers for those suffering, despite not feeling connected to faith.
• A reminder prompts the narrator to submit a piece of her writing to the Carrow Writers deadline, despite believing it’s not her best work.
• Unable to sleep again, the narrator creates a dating app profile and reflects on her self-presentation and how others perceive her.
• The narrator receives a mix of inappropriate, curious, and interesting messages from potential matches on the dating app, including a more promising conversation with a man named Alex.
• After reading work emails and not receiving proper credit for her contributions, the narrator sends an assertive reply to remind her colleagues of her role in a project.
• The narrator tasks herself with selecting photographers for a cookbook project, immersing herself in the research to distract from other emotions.
• Having avoided messaging Alex first, the narrator eventually engages in a more personal conversation with him, hiding her recent loss by portraying normalcy in her family life.
• After an invitation from Alex, the narrator agrees to meet him for a real-life date, despite her apprehension given her current emotional state.